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Posts: 91
Location: Metro , Mille Lacs, and G. Rapids | Do most muskies over 50 inches die after being caught or is that just a rumor ? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | They do. Of old age if they're released or of asphyxiation or blunt force trauma if they're kept.
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Posts: 91
Location: Metro , Mille Lacs, and G. Rapids | Even if they are properly handled and released? |
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Posts: 1828
| muskieman6 - 9/17/2014 9:01 AM
Even if they are properly handled and released?
Yes, they will still die some day, if the Lord tarries. |
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Posts: 280
| Or from delayed mortality if they are mishandled as in; kept out of water too long, held vertically, held against chest wiping off slime, laid on floor of boat, dropped in the boat, caught in water too warm or kissed before being released.... 
Edited by fins355 9/17/2014 9:13 AM
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Humorous group this morning...:)
Bottom line is most survive if handled properly. there is a percentage that die after release for seemingly little reason, but it's small enough to warrant a release every time. |
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| Well....if a human ran a 100 yard dash as fast as they could, then jumped in the water, how long could they hold their breath before bad things happen? Hmmmm. Makes you wonder. |
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Posts: 164
Location: Twin Cities | 0% survive if you don't release them! |
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| I think more of them swim off and die than we'd like to admit. But what are 'ya gonna do? |
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Posts: 158
| In my opinion, this is a myth perpetrated by ignorant folks that like to keep big muskies. Most survive if handled with care.
Edited by teddy b 9/17/2014 11:06 AM
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | There seem to be multiple examples of people catching the same 50+ more than once. Do some die, even when handled well in responsible water temps? I'm sure they do, but like the other poster said, 0% of kept fish survive.
I think most fish that weren't hooked badly, and were handled properly probably end up surviving just fine.
Edited by curleytail 9/17/2014 10:54 AM
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Posts: 1220
| I'm with Steve here (can that be right?) it's better not to joke about this stuff, too easy for it to be misinterpreted. Just plainly tell the guy that's not true. Almost all will survive with careful handling. Just as true for a 55. The single best thing you'll do for the sport is to allow another angler a shot at catching and releasing that fish. You simply can buy just as good a replica and for the same money. |
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Posts: 280
| Actually....I think esoxaddict is closer to the truth. When we say "almost all will survive" what does that really mean? In percentage many biologists put mortality possibly somewhere around 5% and maybe as high as 15-20% depending on many factors. Those who catch a lot of muskies and release all will likely kill more than those who don't catch many and yet might keep 1 in a year.
Edited by fins355 9/17/2014 12:18 PM
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Posts: 2015
| Do more 50's die than 40" ers? Probably ....But for only one solid answer over handling! , seen way too many video's people are exited want hold the fish too long, 30-40 seconds will go by quick...I tell people get her back often in my boat.. cherish the moment but, you don't need 20 pictures and someone in the boat needs to know when 30 seconds out of the water hit ..probably wont be the excited angler if its their first 50  ...get them back fast... most will live for sure
Edited by IAJustin 9/17/2014 12:26 PM
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Posts: 221
| I think the most important part of handling is between the net and the hold. A fish dropped from a hold on the floor of the boat is almost always going to do permanent damage. This is especially important for people that haven't held a musky before. You can't just say "hey grab under the gills and hold it up" to someone that doesn't truly understand that with one wave of the tail this fish can fall out of your grip in a second. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | fins355 - 9/17/2014 12:17 PM
Those who catch a lot of muskies and release all will likely kill more than those who don't catch many and yet might keep 1 in a year.
Sean Landsmen could probably confirm or deny this better than I, but I do recall at least one study that showed 100% survival rate of properly handled fish. |
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Posts: 619
| I agree with the essoxaddict and alot of truth to it. I notice smaller fish release very well compared to larger fish. I actually lost a big one at the boat a few years ago on 4th july that came unhooked at the boat and wouldnt swim away and after sitting with it for about an hour it died. Never netted it and it was barely hooked.
If i catch a bigger fish i really try to make the release super fast and quick, but they are usually hooked so bad. I dont think there is time to waste with the bigger ones.
Edited by Slow Rollin 9/17/2014 12:42 PM
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Location: oswego, il | I like to challenge their odds a little bit. I play a little Russian roulette with the fish. Sometimes the fish wins, sometimes they lose. Myself included. I have shot myself in the head 63 times now.
my reason for musky fishing is simple. I like walleyes. Muskies eat them all. Catch a musky, flush its stomach and I just limited out in walleyes. You might have to cut out some of the bad spots on the fish but they are still mighty tasty! |
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Posts: 90
| Flambeauski - 9/17/2014 1:27 PM
fins355 - 9/17/2014 12:17 PM
Those who catch a lot of muskies and release all will likely kill more than those who don't catch many and yet might keep 1 in a year.
Sean Landsmen could probably confirm or deny this better than I, but I do recall at least one study that showed 100% survival rate of properly handled fish.
Yeah in his study Project Noble Beast, and they were caught mostly during the summer(highest temps) and were all held out of water for 90 seconds. Including more than a few over 50. Most of us handle fish very well and I know in my boat they might be out of the water for 40 seconds tops...maybe...usually less. I would like to think survival rate of fish caught in my boat is on par with PNB. Over time obviously a couple will die but I would bet my last dollar survival rate is around 99.5 percent or higher.
Fins355 is nuts if he thinks his statement is anywhere close to accurate. Handle them with care and the majority will live. |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | I've netted the same 50.5"er for my buddy twice. Once in December and another time in May. She was handled great both times and had no problems during the release. In December she skimmed the surface a few times before she stayed under. If you properly handle them they have a good chance of survival, however things happen and fish can die. Were not going to save every fish every time thats just the way it is. The best thing we can do is handle them with proper care and hope that they survive. Aside from that its out of our hands |
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Location: WI | Simple fact is that there are more 55" fish caught and release now than ever before. The majority of those fish have been caught before. Obviously if over stressed in the process the likely hood of delayed mortality is increased. But to say that "most " big fish die after contact is false.
Five years ago a 54 was nearly mythical. Now on some of our trophy waters you here of a mid 50 class fish caught weekly. Catch and release works bottom line. |
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Posts: 280
| LOL!! Lunger50, I may be nuts....but the statement I made comes from quotes made by fishery biologist's over the years. Sean's study is one that may show a survival rate that is "unique" in opinions from other biologist's. Is it so unique to be unrealistic in the real musky fishing community? Handling certainly is a major factor in survival but there are other factors that play a large part also. Certainly "most" fish will survive C&R. To believe that 100% is achievable in most boats I think is unrealistic at best. A 95% survival still leaves a 5% mortality.
"Those who catch a lot of muskies annually and release all will likely kill more than those who don't catch many and yet might keep 1 in a year."
Yes, it's important to promote the C&R ethic. It's also important to accept the fact that C&R is not a "no kill" practice.
Edited by fins355 9/18/2014 9:32 AM
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Posts: 285
Location: NE Wisconsin | The words repeated here are "if done properly". I have been fishing these beast for over 50 years now and have witnessed many releases including on Green Bay during the hay days when you could see 3 -9 catches and or releases going on at the same time. Also, witnessed countless releases from place of work. My estimation of witnessed releases done properly, where every thing went right is no more then 50%. If live bait was being used, "done properly" goes way down from 50%. Fish get dropped, seconds out of the water turn into minutes, 4 pics of every 34"er, when you have caught 100's come on now, vertical holds, no hook cutters used, etc. From what I have witnessed "if done properly" is not done often enough.
Edited by Johnnie 9/18/2014 10:11 AM
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| How long would you say a 50 inch muskie could be out of the water for photos with water temps say over 70 degrees? |
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Posts: 90
| fins355 - 9/18/2014 10:14 AM
LOL!! Lunger50, I may be nuts....but the statement I made comes from quotes made by fishery biologist's over the years. Sean's study is one that may show a survival rate that is "unique" in opinions from other biologist's. Is it so unique to be unrealistic in the real musky fishing community? Handling certainly is a major factor in survival but there are other factors that play a large part also. Certainly "most" fish will survive C&R. To believe that 100% is achievable in most boats I think is unrealistic at best. A 95% survival still leaves a 5% mortality.
"Those who catch a lot of muskies annually and release all will likely kill more than those who don't catch many and yet might keep 1 in a year."
Yes, it's important to promote the C&R ethic. It's also important to accept the fact that C&R is not a "no kill" practice.
LOL all you want. In experienced hands to say that 5 of every 100 fish I catch is going to die is out to lunch.
Certainly poorly handled fish have a higher chance of not making it. I am speaking to the educated experienced muskie anglers who know how to properly handle and release a fish, which is what Sean's study was based on. What is the impact of us as educated experienced muskie anglers on the muskie population. Obviously had his study continued over the course of a few years and hundreds of fish there may have been 1 or 2 die, but certainly not 10 or 15. |
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Posts: 280
| Lunger50...I was laughing at you calling me nuts. Not laughing at your overall post, although I think you give yourself way too much credit as an "educated experienced musky angler" and your impact on the mortality of muskies. There is plenty of evidence presented by credible biologists to indicate that 5% delayed mortality is realistic and probably low in many instances, Sean's study notwithstanding.
Edited by fins355 9/18/2014 4:46 PM
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Posts: 90
| Fair enough, but you thinking I give myself "way to much credit", when you know nothing about me is comical.
I think you give yourself "way to much credit" as the spokesperson for all these other biologist's. Their 5 percent may be correct, taking into account all anglers regardless of experience or species released. This is muskie board, and I cited a muskie study. |
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| Love me some CPR. |
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Posts: 280
| Lunger50... I don't think I need to know anything about you. It doesn't matter about "you" in particular. My stats were not directed at you personally but at musky anglers in general, good bad and in-between. Some really great "sticks" have agreed with the %'s I've mentioned.
I don't take any credit for being a "spokesperson" for any biologist's. They speak well enough for themselves.
It's important to take into account all musky anglers in trying to determine mortality since all anglers contribute to the mortality.
If you can C&R 100 muskies with none dying from delayed mortality......more power to you.
BUT....how would YOU know none of your fish died??
Edited by fins355 9/18/2014 5:28 PM
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Posts: 239
Location: Elroy, Wisconsin | In my opinion hook a musky between the gills in that blood engorged area just in front of the gullet and the fish is dead period. Hook a musky and damage the eye, the fish dies period. I picked up a 54 " musky floating, very fresh. The beauty had a torn gill. I have seen small pike and muskies survive a torn gill, but not big ones.
A big fish bleeding from the lower third of the body, or from the tail in my opinion is having a severe lactic acid reaction and will not recover. There is always a chance and I release carefully, but some just float belly up after several attemps. Dead fish.
I have been doing this crazy sport for 45 years, released hundreds I know survived, but some just don't.
Your mileage may very,
Mudpupy |
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